Gov. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., announced Wednesday that Lt. Gov. Tina Smith will replace outgoing Sen. Al Franken, who resigned after several women accused him of sexual assault, and after many Democrats said he should step down.
“Tina Smith is a person of the highest integrity and ability. There is no one I trust more to assume the responsibilities of this important office. I know that she will be a superb senator, representing the best interests of our state and our citizens,” Dayton said during a press conference in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday morning.
“I accept this appointment, and it will be my great honor to serve Minnesota as United States senator,” Smith said. “Though I never anticipated this moment, I am resolved to do everything I can to move Minnesota forward. I will be a fierce advocate in the United States Senate for economic opportunity and fairness for all Minnesotans.”
Franken and Dayton’s offices did not respond to multiple requests regarding when Franken will officially leave office. Franken said last week only that he would leave in the coming weeks.
However, a statement from Dayton’s office indicated that Smith may start in January 2018. That statement said she would be appointed to serve a one-year term that concludes in January of 2019.
Smith will hold the temporary office until a special election is scheduled next year, though her term will formally conclude January 2019 if she loses. Franken’s term was set to expire in 2020.
Smith has served as Minnesota lieutenant governor since 2015 and worked as Dayton’s chief of staff for the five years leading up to that promotion. She was vice president of a regional Planned Parenthood and graduated from Stanford University.
Last Wednesday, a former congressional aide accused the comedian-turned-lawmaker of sexually harassing and trying to assault her. The unnamed woman was the seventh person to come forward with these types of allegations against the senator.
Franken denied the accusation, as he has the others. But several women in the Senate began calling for Franken’s immediate resignation. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was the first lawmaker to demand he leave office, and others quickly followed.
Franken announced last Thursday he would resign, but did not admit to any sexual misconduct.
“Some of the allegations against me are simply not true. Others I remember very differently,” Franken said.
